Mayberry: Change is a Challenge
Jeff Illig was a veteran, a dedicated mail carrier for over 30 years in Reno, and a passionate cyclist. On Wednesday, May 13, 2026, Jeff was tragically killed in a fatal hit-and-run crash while riding in the bike lane near South McCarran Boulevard and West Plumb Lane in Reno. The loss has left his family and community heartbroken, as Jeff was known for his kindness, commitment, and positive spirit.
Jeff’s son Nick now faces the daunting prospect of leaving his job in Japan to return to Reno multiple times to settle his father’s estate. The sudden loss has upended Nick’s life, forcing him to navigate travel costs, legal fees, and the many expenses associated with managing his father’s affairs. The financial strain is compounded by the risk of losing his job, making this already difficult time even more challenging.
Nick and his mother Melany are healthy, community-minded individuals whose unwavering faith in humanity has been shaken by Jeff’s tragic death and the circumstances surrounding it. With your support, the guiding light of Jeff can continue to shine for Nick and Melany, helping restore their faith and guiding all of us toward a safer and more compassionate future. Your generosity will make a meaningful difference as they navigate these challenging times.
All donations are tax deductible with 501c3 not-for-profit Nevada Bicycle Coalition as the pass through organization (EIN: 39-2067469). We are waiting on our Charitable Giving Fund approval. NevadaBike.org.
Maybe we should do Critical Mass on the bike lanes this Friday, instead of downtown. What say you?
Hey, Nico,
I think it’s a bad idea.
The current bike lanes were painted with temporary paint that should fade in 2 or 3 months. The idea is that everyone who uses Mayberry can evaluate the design and it can be changed when it needs to be repainted if opposition is strong.
Of course there is already plenty of opposition. Some don’t like this design and some want it back the way it was with no bike lanes at all. And with no bicyclists. Anything that MIGHT anger local residents, be it giving parking tickets to Gommie Mommies who illegally park in the bike lanes or a critical mass ride, will motivate them to work harder to oppose this design.
The Verdi CAB meets this week and the West Truckee Meadows CAB meets next week. Both have bicycle issues on their agenda. Their recommendations are taken seriously by the RTC, the Reno City Council and the Washoe County Commissioners. I don’t want them to have fresh ammunition to oppose this very bicycle friendly design for Mayberry.
Let’s do critical mass downtown this month.
Terry
Good luck…. I hope its a sucess. Hey Mayberry get out and ride!